Combination beach barrow and chair



Jan. 3, 1961 w.-H. HOFFMANN, JR 2,967,058

COMBINATION BEACH BARROW AND CHAIR Filed May '7, 1959 INVENTOR MAL/HM HHOFF/flfl/VA/ -72, BY 2 g WATTO RN EY United States Patent 2,967,058- COMBINATION BEACH =BARROW- AND WilliamH. Holfmann, Jr., 18 Edgewood Road,-

Rumson, N J.

Filed May,7, 1959, Sep. ,s11,64s

4 Cl ims, (Cl 89:

My invention relates tofurniture and more particularly to convertible furniture for beach and outdoor use.

One of the objects of my inventionis to provide furniture which is so constructed and arranged that thesame, may be selectively utilized as a reclining chair for beaches or; the like or as a beach barrow for travel overjrelatively soft surfaces without impeding its travel and the, danger of bogging- Another object of my invention is to provide a beach barrow equipped with anti-bogging traction means constructed in a manner to render said means effective, when operated over relatively soft surfaces, to preclude bogging or sinking into the surfaces.

A further object of my invention is to provide a beach chair equipped with a relatively soft headrest,

A still further object of my invention is to provide said furniture with dual purpose means capable of functioning as a headrest for the chair and as traction means for the barrow.

An important object ofmy invention is to provide furniture of the foregoing described character which is simple in construction, durable in use, efiicient in operation, economical in manufacture, and capable of being expeditiously transposed from one type of use to another without modification.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention illustrating the same in position for use as a beach barrow;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the invention as disclosed in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of my invention illustrating the same in position for use as a chair; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of my invention as disclosed in Figure 4.

In practicing my invention, as illustrated in the drawings, I provide a one-piece member bent between its ends in a manner to form a rectangular frame 5, which may be of a tubular construction, having a pair of spaced side rails 6 and a pair of right angularly disposed transversely extending spaced end rails 7. One of the end rails 7 constitutes an axle 8 when the furniture is utilized as a beach barrow A, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, and has mounted thereon traction means 9 comprising a pair of wheels or rollers 10 and a roll 11 interposed and extending between the rollers 10, the axle 8 having fixed thereto collars 12 to maintain the traction means 9 against axial movement.

The other end rail 7, wherein the ends of the member r' 2,967,058 Patented Jan. 3, 1961 are connected together, constitutes a handle, 13 rforwlhfi barrow A; and has' secured thereto one end 'ofa flexible member or body 14 which may be of atextile construc; tion, for instance, nylon or the like. The opposite end, of 'the body 141s connected to a cross bar 15 securedon the side rails- 6 of the frame adjacent the traction means 9. The body 14 is fashioned with triangular shaped side's' 16 which are secured to or disposed adjacent the. side rails 6 and coact with the ends to provide a pocket or receptacle in which articles may be transported when the invention is utilized as a barrow and .which' serves'as. a seat when the invention is utilized as a chair-C as clear- 1y illustrated in the drawings.

The cross bar 15 is formed with a supporting yoke or bracket 17 extending therefrom and which has a transverse portionll8for engaging theground when the furni ture is "utilized as the chair Cas illustrated in Figure 4'.. When thus utilized, the roll ll constitutes a relatively soft'he'adrest with the body constituting a seat for accom modating the body of a person within the frame and the handle engaging the ground; i i

From the for'e'going,it will be apparent that I have provided a novel article of furnitureor'th'e like capable ofbeing used either as a beach barrow or beach chair. According to the form of the invention as disclosed herein, the roll 11 is constructed of a somewhat pliable or relatively soft material, for instance, sponge rubber of a sufficient density to insure tracking over relatively soft surfaces without appreciable sinking or impeding the travel of the barrow. The flexibility of this roll provides an excellent headrest contributing to the rest and relaxation of the one using the chair, it being noted that the body 14 is so constructed and arranged as to provide an inclined portion for the back of the user to insure maximum comfort.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and subcombinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined solely to the use herein disclosed in connection therewith as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described, as the same is only illustrative of the principles involved which are capable of extended application in various forms, and the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims,

What is claimed is:

1. An article of furniture transposable for use as a barrow or chair, comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be disposed in one position when said article is used as a barrow, said frame having side and end rails with said end rails constituting a handle and an aXle, respectively, for said barrow, a pair of spaced rollers mounted on said axle, an elongated roll mounted on said axle between said rollers and cooperating with the latter for effecting travel of said barrow over a surface, said roll being of a predetermined pliability sufiicient to preclude sinking of said rollers and said roll within a relatively soft surface, a flexible body secured to said frame between said side and end rails and constituting an article receptacle and a seat for said barrow and chair, respectively, said frame being transposable to another position to permit use of said article as a chair and with said roll as a headrest therefor, and a surface engaging yoke attached to said frame and depending downwardly therefrom for supporting said frame at an angle relative to the surface when said article is used as a chair,

2. An article of furniture transposable for use as a barrow or chair, comprising a frame adapted to be disposed in one position when said article is used as a barrow and having an end section constituting an axle for said barrow, an elongated roll mounted on said axle for effective travel of said barrow over a relatively soft surface and being of a predetermined pliability sufficient to preclude sinking of said roll within said surface, a flexible body secured to said frame for functioning as an article receptacle and a seat for said barrow and chair, respectively, said frame being transposable to another position to permit use of said article as a chair and said roll as a headrest for said chair, and a surface engaging yoke attached to said frame for supporting said frame at an angle relative to the surface when said article is used as a chair.

3. A beach chair or the like, comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be disposed in an inclined position relative to a supporting surface and having side rails and upper and lower end rails, a flexible body secured to said frame between said side and end rails and constituting a supporting medium, an elongated roll rotatably mounted on said upper rail and serving as a headrest for a person seated on said medium, said roll being of a predetermined pliability sufficient to preclude sinking of said roll within a relatively soft surface when said frame is reroll rotatably mounted on one of said end rails, said frame being reversible end-for-end to a pair of different positions to define a chair and barrow, respectively, and means carried by said frame for engaging a supporting surface to maintain said frame in an inclined position relative to said surface when used as a chair, said roll constituting a headrest for said chair and traction means for said barrow.

, References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 152,576 Wallace Feb. 1, 1949 646,869 Perkes Apr. 3, 1900 2,699,557 Gravatt Jan. 18, 1955 2,840,142 Sands June 24, 1958 2,889,152 Hurst et al. June 2, 1959 2,893,746 Cunningham July 7, 1959 

